SECTION 780:15-3-7. Special provisions

(a)   Sex discrimination. It shall be the responsibility of the board of education of the technology center district to review and conform to all regulations that prohibit sex discrimination. No person in the United States shall on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance [Public Law 92-318, Title IX, Sec. 901 (A)]. Any reference to discriminatory language or practices relative to race, creed, or national origin should be deleted.

(b)   Basic education. No technology center district shall be required to provide any training or instruction that is independent of career and/or technology education. However, foundational, academic and contextual academic education should be provided to persons in order to bring them up to a level at which they may successfully complete the course in which they are enrolled.

(c)   Education and Services in other districts. No technology center district shall offer CareerTech education and/or services to any entities inside another technology center district without prior approval of that district. If there is a Reciprocity Agreement between technology center districts, the provisions of the Reciprocity Agreement shall be followed. Territory not presently a part of any technology center district may be served by a technology center district in accordance with the policy and procedures approved by the State Board.

(d)   Live Work Policy. The live work policy adopted by the State Board of Career and Technology Education in February 2004 shall be incorporated into all technology center policies and procedures. Live work is work performed by students in a laboratory, classroom, shop, or in a field setting under written contract and under the direction of the instructor. The process by which all live work projects will be approved should be outlined in the live work policy. Live work projects should be chosen on the basis of merit in relation to the instructional objectives as well as the determined value of the project to allow students to achieve a desired level of competency. Superintendents, Deputy Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents and local board members shall be ineligible from utilizing live work services. These projects are not to replace other learning activities, nor to compete with other organizations within the district, but are to complement them. These projects will allow students to experience situations not easily duplicated in a lab or classroom, and at little or no cost to the school. Documentation for each live work project will be maintained by the technology center and will contain pre-numbered live work tickets, authorization signatures, signature of the project owner, estimated amount, amount paid or deposited, scope of the work, estimated completion date, and record of all materials and parts purchased. Live work accounts shall be paid in full upon the completion of the project. The list of live work projects may be reviewed at any time by the ODCTE audit/review staff or others as designated by the State Director of Career and Technology Education. All records of live work projects will be maintained by the technology center for at least three (3) fiscal years following the most recent technology center financial audit. The following policy should be incorporated into all technology center policies and procedures. The policies developed by the technology centers will become items for review during all standard accreditation visits or audit/reviews conducted by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

(e)   Technology Center Code of Ethics Guidelines. Each technology center will ensure that its district policies and procedures comply with the guidelines for the Technology Center Code of Ethics approved by the State Board of Career and Technology Education in April 2004. Technology center district boards may add any other provisions to these guidelines with discretion. Policies and procedures shall be developed by each technology center board for reporting and resolving alleged violations. The policies developed by the technology centers will become items for review during all standard accreditation visits or audit/reviews conducted by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. The guidelines for the Technology Center Code of Ethics are:

(A)   Focus on the success of students and clients as the fundamental value upon which all decisions are made. Provide a safe, supportive environment to include up-to-date facilities, equipment, instructional materials, and methods, as well as other appropriate student services to enhance the educational experience and enable all students to achieve their full potential for success. Ensure that all instructors are appropriately qualified to provide a high level of instruction to enable students to obtain realistic training and education for successful career and workplace readiness.

(B)   Acknowledge that the System is accountable to the taxpayers and patrons of the local district and the State of Oklahoma. The district will compile and make available an annual report or profile that identifies the standards by which the district measures success. A copy of this report will also be published on the district website. The annual report or profile may measure standards such as teacher qualifications, revenue, expenditures, cost per student, economic impact of education and services, completion rates, sending school service rate, placement of completers, percentage of completers who attain an industry-recognized state or national licensure or certification, etc.

(C)   Understand that the role of the board of education is to set policy and direction for the school district, and the role of the administration and staff is to implement the policies of the board in a fair and consistent manner. The district will maintain and enforce an up-to-date manual of Policies and Procedures. The district will utilize a strategic planning process that will include, at a minimum, the following components: core values and beliefs, vision statement, mission statement, and strategic goals. Adoption of policies not in conformity with the administrator's recommendations or beliefs is not just cause for refusal by the administration to support and implement those policies. Administration must be impartial in the execution of the school policies and the enforcement of rules and regulations. It is a breach of ethics to give preferential consideration to any individual or group because of special status or position in the school system or the community.

(D)   Not use position or influence for any personal gain; and will avoid actions that create a conflict of interest and strive to avoid actions that might appear to create a conflict of interest. The term "conflict of interest" describes any circumstance that could cast doubt on a person's ability to act with total objectivity with regard to the district's interest. Conflicts of interest are prohibited. It is improper for a board member or school administrator to profit financially from interest in any business which publishes, sells, manufactures, or in any way deals in goods or services which are, or may be expected to be, purchased by the school system they serve. It is a breach of public trust for a board member or administrator to use confidential information concerning schools affairs (such as the knowledge of the selection of specific school sites) for personal profit or to divulge such information to others who might profit. Although it is impossible to list all potential conflict of interest situations, the following examples represent situations where a conflict of interest could arise: A direct or indirect financial interest in any business or organization that is a district vendor or competitor, if the employee or board of education member can influence decisions with respect to the district's business. Use of any district asset for the employee's personal business advantage (examples of such assets include not only equipment, tools, and supplies, but also valuable ideas, technical data, and other confidential information). Relationships, including business, financial, personal, and family may give rise to conflicts of interest or the appearance of a conflict. Employees should carefully evaluate relationships as they relate to district business to avoid conflict or the appearance of a conflict.

(E)   Fulfill professional responsibilities with honesty and integrity. The Board of Education, superintendent, administration, faculty, and staff will fulfill their duties and responsibilities with honesty and integrity and improve their professional effectiveness through continuing professional development. Board members will be diligent and well informed of issues surrounding Board decisions and regularly attend Board meetings.

(F)   Support the Constitutions of the State of Oklahoma and the United States of America and obey all federal, state, and local laws. Board members will uphold the Oath of Office. Professional development will be held annually for board members, superintendent, administration, faculty, and staff to learn about new laws.

(G)   Encourage effective communication between the Board, the students, the staff, and all elements of the community. A communication plan will be developed to address internal and external audiences.

(H)   Improve professional effectiveness through continuing professional development. In addition to meeting the minimum requirements for continuing education mandated by state law, board members, administration and staff have a professional obligation to attend conferences, seminars, and other learning activities that hold promise of contributing to their professional growth and development.

(f)   Rules; regulations. In the absence or omission of specific rules and regulations pertaining to the technology center districts, the state statutes and the rules and regulations governing independent school districts will prevail.

(g)   Review of the Rules for Career and Technology Education. The Rules for Career and Technology Educationapproved by the State Board should be reviewed in connection with developing CareerTech courses, Programs and services.

(h)   Technology Centers That Work. The Department will coordinate the Technology Centers That Work initiative to help technology centers embed college-and career-readiness academic standards into instruction and produce graduates who can succeed in postsecondary studies and careers in high-demand, high-skill, high-wage fields. The Department will coordinate with the Southern Regional Educational Board and other entities to organize professional development sessions on topics such as numeracy, literacy and using data for continuous school improvement.

[Source: Amended at 16 Ok Reg 3209, eff 7-12-99; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 3281, eff 7-26-01; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 2895, eff 7-11-04; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 2276, eff 7-1-05; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 2426, eff 7-1-07; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 2093, eff 7-1-08; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 2390, eff 7-1-09; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1991, eff 7-1-10; Amended at 33 Ok Reg 1920, eff 9-11-16; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 2190, eff 9-14-18]